Hypertension Flashcards
Hypertension - other terms
- silent killer
- High blood pressure
What is hypertension ?
Damage to the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes due to blood vessel damage
hypertension - major risk of death by what
Stroke and heart attack
Mechanical causes
- Increase stroke volume (more blood pumped every heart beat)
- Increase peripheral resistance = decreased vasodilation of blood vessels and arterial walls become thickened, inelastic and resistance to blood flow
Hypertension - incidence
- 20 to 25% of Canadians but 1/3 don’t know it
- Trends : more older people has it than younger (varies with age)
Hypertension - symptoms
- Mild to moderate : no symptoms
- Severe: blurred vision, severe headaches, confusion
What is use the measure BP?
- Sphygmomanometer
Optimal BP
- 120 / 80 mmHG
- 120 = systolic
- 80 = diastolic
Temporarily increase of BP - factors
- Stress
- Smoking
- Exercise
- Caffeine
Lowest BP
Sleeping
What happens to BP pressure during winter vs during summer?
- Winter BP rise
- Summer BP drops
Why change in BP during different season? (2)
- Blood vessels constrict in cold causing heart to work harder
- Increase weight and decreased exercise during winter
Hypertension - Causes (2)
- Primary/ essential : no medical cause (don’t know why) = 90%
- Secondary
Secondary hypertension - factors (8)
- Pregnancy
- Coarctation of aorta
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Physical inactivity
- High fat diet + increase salt intake
- Large amount of alcohol
- Increase stress
Hypertension and atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) - high BP leads to what
Swelling and stretching of arteries walls
Hypertension and atherosclerosis - Swelling and stretching of arteries walls leads to what
Endothelial injury
Hypertension and atherosclerosis - Endothelial injury leads to what
Attraction of LDL cholesterol and white blood cells (WBC)